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Fence Permit in Everett, Washington

Everett requires a permit for any fence, with no height threshold - one of the strictest fence rules among the Washington cities in this guide.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A building and/or electrical permit must be obtained from the building department BEFORE erecting or RE-ERECTING any fence
  • There is no height exemption in EMC 16.56.030
  • Electric fences are prohibited within the city limits
  • Barbed wire is allowed only in the A-1 Agricultural Use Zone, or placed above a woven wire or solid wooden fence

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR EVERETT, AND THE REASON IS THAT THE FEE PROVISIONS WERE NOT READ. Show full citationNO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR EVERETT, AND THE REASON IS THAT THE FEE PROVISIONS WERE NOT READ. This entry covers EMC Chapter 16.005 (adoption and general administration) and Chapter 16.56 (fences). Everett's amendments to each individual code sit in Chapters 16.01 through 16.10, which were NOT opened, so this guide does not say where its fees live or what they are. That is a gap in the reading, not a finding about the city. Ask Permit Services on 425-257-8700.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Fence Permit permit actually take in Everett?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    Tips

    • "Re-erection" is covered - putting an existing fence back up needs a permit too
    • Do not carry a neighbouring city's fence exemption here; Tukwila exempts fences up to 6 feet and Everett exempts none
    • The fences chapter is enforced by the chief of police, not the building department

    Frequently asked questions

    Yes, for any fence. EMC 16.56.030 states that "A building and/or electrical permit shall be obtained, from the building department, prior to erection or re-erection of any fence." There is no height threshold, and re-erecting an existing fence counts. This is a local rule: Tukwila, for example, exempts fences not over 6 feet high.

    In Everett, the published Building permit fee is: Not stated in this guide - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Everett does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Everett - Permit Services at 425-257-8700 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Building and/or electrical permit application from the building department. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Everett - Permit Services at 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Phone: 425-257-8700. Official information: https://www.everettwa.gov/.

    Everett, Washington has adopted: EVERETT NAMES NO EDITION AND SAYS SO TWICE OVER. EMC 16.005.030: "The current edition of the International Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., as adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, as now or hereafter amended." The same formula covers the International Residential Code under Chapter 51-51 WAC, and the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code.; EVEN THE APPENDICES ROLL. The IBC adoption specifically adopts "Appendix G, Flood-Resistant Construction" and "Appendix J, Grading", and the IRC adoption "Appendix K, Sound Transmission" - each "as now or hereafter amended".; THE CITY EXPLAINS ITS OWN MECHANISM. EMC 16.005.010: "The State Building Code is amended a minimum of once every three years. Likewise, the International Code Council, Inc., publishes an updated IPMC every three years. This chapter shall incorporate all such amendments to the State Building Code and IPMC updates automatically at the time such amendments and updates become effective."; Everett splits its amendments across chapters by code: 16.01 (IBC and IRC), 16.02 (IMC and IFGC), 16.03 (IFC), 16.04 (UPC), 16.05 (NEC), 16.09 (IPMC) and 16.10 (Washington State Energy Code). NONE OF THOSE WERE READ FOR THIS ENTRY.; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Everett overview page for the full list.

    Electric fences are prohibited outright within the city limits under EMC 16.56.010. Barbed wire is prohibited under EMC 16.56.020 unless the fence is in an A-1 Agricultural Use Zone, or the barbed wire is placed above a woven wire or solid wooden fence.

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Everett building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

    Property Access

    Everett's permit history is searchable by address

    162,046 permits in our copy of Everett's register — searchable by street address, with permit type, status, issued date and valuation where the city publishes them. This is what we hold, not a statement of everything Everett has issued.

    155,632 of these 162,046 permits — 96% — carry an issued date, and those run from 1988 to 2026. The remaining 6,414 have no date at all.

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    Other permits in Everett

    Building PermitVerify a Contractor Licence

    Fence Permit in other cities

    Bountiful, UtahCentennial, ColoradoChandler, ArizonaCity of St. Johns, ArizonaClearfield, UtahColorado City, ArizonaDallas, TexasEl Paso, Texas

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